#protectthegreatlakes

[cleanwaterchronicles]

New technology provides hope for Great Lakes’ polluted waters

By Abigail Comar

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Environmental Protection Agency have demonstrated a new technology designed to reduce harmful algal blooms in lakes, including Lake Erie, which have been plagued by eutrophication.

It’s part of a wide range of efforts on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border to address the threat of Eutrophication on the Great Lakes and other inland bodies of water.

Eutrophication occurs when a lake has too many nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen.

Plant life booms in lakes with a lot of nutrients, which initially sounds like a positive.

But excess nutrients and plant growth can suffocate aquatic animals by removing oxygen from the water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

One common result of extra nutrients is harmful algal blooms.

Algae are simple plants that typically look like flecks of green in the water. A harmful bloom occurs when algae produce toxins that sicken other living things, including humans.

The demonstration of new algae harvesting technology occurred in mid-September at Harsha Lake, an important source of drinking water for Clermont County.

The technology, called hypernucleation flotation technology, physically removes algae from bodies of water. It was developed by the Dallas-based engineering firm AECOM.

Dan Levy, the national director of algae for AECOM, said the weeks-long test at Harsha Lake appears to be a success. Initial findings show that phosphorus in the water dropped below detectable levels.

The technology works by skimming the water or taking in water from a specific depth in a lake and physically separating the algae out of the water. The result is a solid clump of biological material Levy calls algae cake.

Levy said an important facet of AECOM’s development of the technology was that it be sustainable.

The algae cakes can safely be sent to a landfill, but there are other uses for them.

For example, the algae can be pressurized into liquid crude oil and used as fuel.

Levy said AECOM is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to make algae cakes into a viable energy source.

Algae products are also a way to replace plastics.

Read the full article HERE

Source: Great Lakes Echo

[wayiiseelife]

...enjoy, protect the great lakes. ☀ . . . [ #VoyagerPark #DePereWisconsin #DePere #DePereWI #Wisconsin #WisconsinGirl #ItsSoGoodToBeHome #Clouds #CloudPorn #LookAtThatViewThough #WIBaby #WisconsinBaby #PhotosFromMyPhone #DePere #LikeForLike #Like4Like #Amazed #Beauty #Fisherman #Fish #YouShouldFood #YouGuysLookCool #GreatLakes #EnjoyTheGreatLakes #ProtectTheGreatLakes ] (at Voyager Park)

[jmjafrx]

#Repost @wiisaakodewinini with @repostapp ・・・ No pipelines in the Great Lakes.The lakes are sacred. Shutdown Line 5. Please share! #nopipelines #shutdownline5 #nodapl #nopipelinesthroughsacredwater #protectthegreatlakes #puremichigan

[cleanwaterchronicles]

GROUNDWATER-Michigan's Sixth Great Lake

The beauty and abundance of Michigan’s freshwater is well known. The Great Lakes, the largest freshwater system in the world, has a surface area of 94,600 mi 2  and holds over 5,400 mi 3  on average. While many of us are familiar with the depths of Lake Superior, the dunes of Lake Michigan, the history of Lake Huron, the fisheries of Lake Erie, and the abundant wildlife of Lake Ontario, there is another hidden water resource. Under our feet lies invisible and expansive groundwater – our Sixth Great Lake.

There is more than a thousand times more groundwater than all the lakes and rivers on earth.

For Love Of Water (FLOW) works to protect public water resources in the Great Lakes region. Groundwater is an unseen part of those resources, yet it directly impacts all aspects of our lives. Groundwater is critical to our public health, trout streams, agricultural irrigation, manufacturing, unique natural features, and important ecosystems. Education about and protection of this important resource have become an important part of what FLOW aims to do - preserve our freshwater for generations to come.

Much of it is beyond our reach or spread throughout miles of porous rock layers. This makes studying groundwater difficult and tracking pollution issues challenging.

In Michigan and across the U.S., groundwater is seriously polluted, threatened, and in some areas, entirely unusable, and the harmful effects of human activity on groundwater are not well understood.

Because groundwater supplies 45% of Michigan’s population with drinking water through public community systems and individual private wells, it is critical that we all understand this important resource.

Michigan Groundwater Quick Facts

The amount of fresh groundwater in the Great Lakes Basin is estimated to be equal to the volume of Lake Michigan—1,180 cubic miles of water.

Direct and indirect discharges of groundwater to the Great Lakes are estimated to account for as much as 2.7% and 42% (respectively) of the inflows to the Great Lakes.

In 2019, Michigan businesses, governments, agriculture, and other sectors used 197,330,949,243 gallons of groundwater, according to EGLE.

Michigan has 9% of the nation’s public groundwater supply systems, the highest share of any state (12,038 out of 128,371).

HOW TO PROTECT GROUNDWATER

Groundwater is constantly flowing beneath our feet and by being aware of this precious resource, we can take action to protect it. Everyday choices can ensure the health of our groundwater.

dispose of chemical cleaners, motor oil, batteries, other  household items , and  medications  properly.

limit pesticide and fertilizer use.

If you own a well, create a protection area around it and test your water regularly.

Use water wisely to avoid waste. Find your annual water usage estimate here. 

 Test and maintain  your septic system. 

TAKE ACTION WITH FLOW

Join FLOW to help ensure that our government and laws protect our rights to healthy, plentiful groundwater!

Follow FLOW on social media.

Facebook:  facebook.com/flowforwater 

Instagram:  for.love.of.water 

Join FLOW at one of our events to learn more and support our mission.

Help protect groundwater by making a financial contribution to FLOW  here.

Donate your time or talents to FLOW's mission by signing up here.

Subscribe to FLOW's e-mail here.

Source: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f7e01ecb492340aca636014d2b1a314c

[cleanwaterchronicles]

Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education 2021 Conference

October 1st-3rd at Eastern Michigan University.

Email conference.maeoe@gmail.com for registration information. Or visit https://www.maeoe.com/ for more details.

Friday, October 1, 2021 Workshops 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

NASA STEM: Exploring Earth Systems with a Water Walk Workshop Fee: $0

Explore NASA Earth science resources for solving problems and creating Project-based Learning opportunities for your students. We will review lessons for field trip observations of water sources with the NASA Water Walk Field Trip and River Walk Field Trip educator guides. Lessons include calculating stream flow, satellite studies of watersheds, and modeling a catchment basin. The focus will be on experiential learning strategies to develop descriptions and explanations using evidence. This interactive session takes place both in and outdoors. Susan Kohler, a NASA Education Specialist at the Glenn Research Center (OH) will lead the workshop. No Fee but registration is required.

Aquatic Ecology through Fly Tying Workshop Fee: $0

Creative methods to teach STEM concepts are always in demand. This session is STEM at its best! Rich Eberly will guide you through the same process that he uses with his New Buffalo students. This includes building a fly-tying vise (from everyday materials), capturing aquatic insects, learning insect anatomy, tying a fly of that insect, and testing it with a fly rod. No Fee but registration required. Limited to 12 participants.

NAAEE K-12 EE Guidelines for Excellence Workshop Fee: $20 MAEOE Member/$30 Nonmember

Are you interested in making your environmental education work more effective? Do you want to network with other environmental educators from across Michigan? Come learn about best practices with an overview of NAAEE Guidelines for Environmental Education Excellence in K-12 Learning in this engaging ½ day workshop. In recent years, a team of MAEOE Board members, and others, have been certified as trainers by the North American Association for Environmental Education. Now this team brings the training to you! This fun and interactive workshop defines the aims ok K-12 EE and will allow you to walk away feeling confident in your ability to recognize and execute high-quality education. Learn how to support student development of the skills, practices, and understandings of environmental literacy at each grade band. Each participant will receive a bound copy of Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence, K–12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence & K-12 Environmental Education: Guidelines for Excellence Executive Summary

A Quick Start to Bow-drill Fire Making Workshop Fee: $20

Participants will learn the proper form and technique to operate a bow-drill fire making set. Each student will receive a bow drill set consisting of the following pieces: handhold, spindle, fire-board, and tinder bundle. A bow will be provided to use during instruction. Be prepared to push yourself mentally and physically as you learn this ancient skill. Participants should bring a sharp knife, water bottle and notebook and pen. Both indoor and outdoor time included. Limited to 12 participants. Shawn M. Grose, owner of Earth N Sky School of Nature and Wilderness will lead the workshop.

Saturday, October 2, 2021 Field Trips 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m

Innovative EE in AA Field Trip Fee: $0

This two-for-one field trip will take you on an afternoon of engaging EE efforts at two local area sites just minutes from each other. The Farm at St Joseph Mercy takes holistic health to a whole new level with pollinator and engagement gardens and much more. Laura Meisler, Education Coordinator at the Farm will lead this field trip. Less than 15 minutes away is the Freeman Center, recently dedicated as an integral part of Ann Arbor Public Schools. Tour the 40-acre site and learn how this program continues the legacy of Bill Stapp who helped initiate EE in AA schools 60 years ago. Dave Szczygiel and Coert Ambrosino are environmental educators for AAPS and will lead this portion of the field trip. Both these sites are only minutes from EMU conference site and carpooling is encouraged. This field trip is free to all conference registrants. Although free, you must register to participate on the conference registration platform.

Ypsilanti HS Walking Tour Field Trip Fee: $0

Ypsilanti High school students and teachers will lead participants on a walking tour of place-based civic science projects (pollinator and rain gardens; planned flooding mitigation and community and regrow gardens) at Ypsilanti Community Schools, showcasing this student-generated collaborative project with community partners, teachers, district administrators, facilities staff, and students. Students will engage participants in activities utilized to investigate local environmental issues and showcase solutions they have implemented. Paula Sizemore, Instructional Coach in Mathematics and Sciences, will lead the field trip. This field trip is free to all conference registrants. Transportation is not provided, but carpooling is encouraged. Although free, you must register to participate on the conference registration platform.

Waterloo Rec Area Bog Hike Field Trip Fee: $0

Looking for a hike in woods and waters? Just north of I-94 between Chelsea and Jackson lies one of Michigan’s best-kept secrets, the Waterloo Recreation Area. Waterloo is the third-largest state park in Michigan, encompassing over 21,000 acres of forest, lakes, and wetlands. Join DNR Interpreter Katie McGlashen at the Gerald Eddy Discovery Center for a quick historical overview and then a hike to one of Waterloo’s most unique features, a peat bog. Huge beech dot the trail and many species of carnivorous plants await you at your final destination. Looking for an adventure outside of the city limits? This field trip is for you. The Eddy Center is about a 35- minute drive from EMU. Transportation is not provided, but carpooling encouraged. Although free, you must register to participate on the conference registration platform.

University of Michigan Museum of Natural History Field Trip Fee: $5 plus parking

Located only about 15 minutes from EMU campus, the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History is brand new after a recent campus relocation. Join MAEOE Board Treasurer and Museum Program Manager Brittany Burgess for an incredible tour. A journey through four billion years on earth, explore Michigan’s diverse ecosystems and many other exhibits that will challenge your science knowledge. Discover the two Investigate Labs where students can dig in and do what scientists do. Learn how the museum works within the Ann Arbor community and how they connect their visitors to science. Transportation is not provided, but carpooling is encouraged. You must register to participate on the conference registration platform.

Sunday, October 3, 2021 Workshop 10:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m.

Aquatic WILD in Michigan Workshop Fee: $0

The DNR’s procurement of an EPA grant has allowed Aquatic WILD workshops to be offered at no cost to participants. Join the state coordinator Natalie Elkins for this fun and engaging professional development that ties science standards to our community watersheds and wildlife, through research-based, hands-on activities and investigations. This workshop also qualifies as a component for the MAEOE Environmental Education Certification. 3 SCECHs apply. An internationally renowned activity guide is included in this workshop.

[cleanwaterchronicles]

EGLE Classroom-Environmental Education Resource Lending Station Launch

Whether at home or in the classroom, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is providing a variety of online videos and resources through its EGLE Classroom initiative that teachers and parents can use to supplement school lessons all year long.

Environmental Education Resource Lending Station Launch

Did you know that EGLE has an Environmental Education Resource Lending Station (Lending Station)? The EGLE Lending Station allows educators to borrow materials that engage students in place-based, hands-on education. The Lending Station items can help educators promote Great Lakes-based stewardship without a trip to the Great Lakes. The EnviroScape, Sand & Gravel Simulator models, and H2O Q Kits (water quality backpacks) are available for lending to your classroom or organization.

Stay tuned, the Lending Station will go live in September 2021.

Highlighted #EGLEclassroom Videos

Air Monitoring Equipment EGLE’s Air Quality Division has over 40 locations across that state that measure the outdoor air for specific air pollutants. This video shows how an air monitoring technician gathers data and measures the pollutants using special instruments.

One Water There is only One water, and it is ours to protect. The water we drink, the water we enjoy, the water we flush... It's all one water. The One Water concept emphasizes a holistic understanding and shared responsibility for our water systems. The people of Michigan share in the benefits of our location at the heart of the Great Lakes. We also share responsibility for the quality of our lakes, rivers, and streams as well as our drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.

Visit Michigan.gov/EGLEclassroom for more information.

Follow @MichiganEGLE and the #EGLEclassroom conversation on Twitter.

[cleanwaterchronicles]

Michiganders Want More Environmental Education

By Taylor Haelterman

Residents worry a lack of environmental education threatens Michigan’s defining feature, the Great Lakes, according to a recent study.

Focus groups from both peninsulas identified environmental threats for coastal communities and called for education on how to be better stewards of the Great Lakes, according to the study published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research. 

Concerns varied by lake, but the two most common themes were rising water levels and lack of environmental education. Those surveyed also listed beach erosion, pollution, public access, invasive species, and lake user’s safety as concerns, said Kenneth Levine an author of the study and adjunct professor in the Michigan State University communications department.

Lake Erie and Lake Ontario coastal communities were not a part of the study.

“The Lake Huron people were most concerned about pollution,” Levine said. “The Lake Michigan people were most concerned about erosion. And the Lake Superior people were worried about keeping the waters useful.”

And they all want to see these issues addressed.

The focus groups concluded the best way to solve many of the environmental problems they face is through education and stewardship, Levine said.

Stewardship is taking care of something that’s important to you, said Mary Whitmore, the executive director of the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative.

The initiative works with K-12 teachers and communities to educate students on environmental stewardship. It uses place-based education which involves learning through participation in community service projects and immersing students in the local environment, Whitmore said.

Anyone can be a better steward through small actions like making art to raise awareness, volunteering in their community, landscaping their lawn differently, and even feeding birds, Whitmore said.

“These things all just sound like trivial things that aren’t going to make a big difference, but it’s going to forge a connection between you and your place,” she said. “It’s going to forge a sense of caring for your place, and when you care about something you pay attention to it and you take action to protect it.

“That’s really what stewardship is—just taking care of stuff.”

Some ideas the focus groups identified to promote stewardship in public education were inviting guest speakers to talk about stewardship, teaching students about invasive species and how to properly dig up invasive plants, and offering field trips, Levine said.

They also brainstormed ways to teach tourists about stewardship such as playing informational videos in hotels and distributing brochures or signs reminding people to throw away trash and treat their surroundings with respect.

“We didn’t talk to many tourists but they’re just as important an audience,” he said. “We want them to enjoy it, have a wonderful time, come back but also not do any damage while they’re here.”

The participants’ focus was on ensuring that the education and outreach is ongoing.

“We can’t get the message out once and be done,” Levine said. “These are ongoing concerns and they’re not necessarily going to go away.”

The study gathered the information for a potential messaging campaign to persuade Great Lakes residents and visitors to be better coastline stewards. It was funded by the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program, which works to protect public health through the environment, according to the study.

The goal of a messaging campaign is to create things like billboards and public service announcements that raise awareness of issues and change people’s opinions or behaviors, Levine said.

“Our lakes define us,” is the potential tag line for the campaign.

“The idea (is) that as a state we are really integrated with the lakes in ways that other states can’t necessarily relate,” Levine said.

“It’s really important that we become good stewards of our coastline because we have 3,288 miles of it, and it really impacts the quality of life here in Michigan.”

Source: Great Lakes Echo

[cleanwaterchronicles]

BECOME A WATER STEWARD

Michigan's water resources face a number of threats from invasive species, urban and rural runoff, nonpoint source pollution, legacy contamination, emerging pollutants and changes in climate. You can help protect our water resources!

Michigan is surrounded by 20% of the world's fresh surface water, and which is why it's important to be good stewards of this global treasure. Ensuring the health of our water resources for generations to come depends on stewardship and education about water. Just like every drop of water matters, every effort does too!

VOLUNTEERING

Safe Drug Disposal Program

Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Adopt-a-Beach

Volunteer with MiCorps

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

From Students to Stewards Initiative

Michigan Water School

Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative

Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum

Michigan Sea Grant Educational Resources

RELATED LINKS

Sustainable Small Harbors Toolkit

Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership

Cranbrook Science Institute and Freshwater Forum

Source: EGLE-Great Lakes & Fresh Water

[cleanwaterchronicles]

July is Now Lakes Appreciation Month

Gov. Whitmer proclaims July Lakes Appreciation Month

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has designated July as Lakes Appreciation Month, highlighting a resource that fuels Michigan’s economy, is the source of drinking water for millions, draws tourists from around the world and offers countless opportunities for recreation.

“Michiganders are blessed with an abundance of natural water resources, namely our awesome Great Lakes and over 11,000 inland lakes. We have a duty to protect and preserve these precious resources as well as our wetlands, rivers and groundwater for future generations,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Ending sewer overflows, fixing failing septic systems, cleaning up contaminated sites and planning for the effects of climate change are critical to a clean and healthy future for our lakes. We must work together to protect our treasured water resources and do everything we can to ensure they are here for Michiganders to enjoy centuries from now, just as we enjoy them today.”

While there are many challenges facing Michigan’s lakes and connected waterways, aging infrastructure and the effects of climate change are two highly important issues that require increased awareness during Lakes Appreciation Month and the months to come.

The Governor’s MI Healthy Climate Plan creates a roadmap to a carbon neutral economy by 2050 that will also protect the state’s natural resources, including lakes. The Governor’s MI Clean Water Plan is a $500 million investment in infrastructure from source to tap that will make for cleaner, more affordable water. Nearly $3 million under the plan will help communities develop, update and improve their wastewater and stormwater plans, keeping pollutants out of Michigan’s lakes and rivers.

Protecting water resources is part of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) mission and the department is leading the development and implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan and the MI Clean Water Plan.

EGLE’s Water Resources Division protects and monitors Michigan’s waters by establishing water quality standards, assessing the health of aquatic communities, encouraging natural shoreline practices, regulating wastewater discharges and overseeing aquatic invasive species concerns and water withdrawals. EGLE’s Office of the Great Lakes oversees Great Lakes water policy and strategy implementation as well as representing the state at national forums regarding the Great Lakes.

To learn more about Michigan’s lakes or how to help keep them healthy, consult these resources:

OGL’s State of the Great Lakes 2020 Report.

Impacts of Great Lakes high water levels.

Coastal Zone Management Program.

Council on Climate Solutions.

Lakes and beach water quality monitoring.

MiCorps volunteer lakes and rivers monitoring program.

Michigan Shoreland Stewards program.

Great Lakes Areas of Concerns legacy contamination restoration.

Michigan Aquatic Invasive Species cooperative.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

Nonpoint source pollution grants.

Shorelands Management Program.

Great Lakes Coordination Program.

Shoreline Protection information and resources.

BeachGuard Monitoring System.

[cleanwaterchronicles]

Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week June 5-13

Celebrate Michigan's water resources during Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week June 5-13!

Will you paddle along a water trail or join an Adopt-a-Beach team for a local cleanup? Maybe you can collect plastics as you stroll along the beach or clear litter from storm catch basins in your neighborhood. What will you pledge to do to benefit Michigan's water resources? What will you pledge to do to benefit Michigan's water resources? Share your photos and stories on social media with #MiGreatLakesWeek.

Here are ways that you can participate in Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week:

Post photos on social media of your favorite lake, river, or water experience and use the hashtag #MiGreatLakesWeek.

Try your hand at Great Lakes trivia, posted to the DNR's Mi Nature Facebook page and at EGLE's Twitter feed.

Watch and share themed videos throughout the week: Appreciate our water resources, educate residents about stewardship and recreate responsibly.

Fish for free June 12-13. On these two days, the DNR will waive the need for a fishing license, as well as off-road vehicle license, trail permit and the Recreation Passport requirement for state parks and boating access sites.

Take your blanket to the beach and read the 2020 State of the Great Lakes report.

Check out the Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week webpage at Michigan.gov/GreatLakesWeek, where you'll find links to local events, education resources, videos, MiCorps volunteer sign-up, invasive species identification and how to properly dispose of old medications.

Open the From Students to Stewards toolkit, which is full of place-based educational resources for teachers that will instill in youth a desire to learn about water resources and how to be protective of lakes and streams.

As you decide how to enjoy the outdoors, follow these tips to recreating responsibly on the water, in the water and while fishing, as well as resources to consult regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

FACTS ABOUT GREAT LAKES AND FRESHWATER

The Great Lakes hold about 20 percent of the world’s available freshwater.

In Michigan, you are never more than 6 miles away from a lake – and we have more than 11,000!

Michigan has more than 3,200 miles of coastline.

Our state is home to the world’s largest freshwater dune system.

660,000 Michigan jobs are directly linked to the Great Lakes.

Sources: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/0,9429,7-135-7251_7253-561129--,00.html, https://www.michigan.gov/ogl/0,9077,7-362-86094---,00.html

[cleanwaterchronicles]

Road Salt: Researchers Look at Vegetables and Juices for Alternatives to Salt

“Salt-speckled sidewalks, driveways and highways are synonymous with winter in the Great Lakes region. But while road salt is highly effective at deicing surfaces, the safety that salt provides for humans places a heavy burden on freshwater ecosystems.

“We have an unhealthy addiction to road salt,” said Claire Oswald, a hydrologist and associate professor at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario.

Multiple studies dating back to the 1970s have shown that road deicing salt has a negative impact on soil, vegetation, wildlife, surface water, groundwater and human health. A 1984 study conducted by the Michigan Legislative Science Office states road deicing salts, “are contributing to major changes in the Great Lakes ecosystem,” particularly on sensitive environments like wetlands, ponds and streams. Additionally, the legislative study found road salts are contributing to a general degradation of groundwater quality for all users in the Great Lakes region.

In the late 1990s, Oswald said the Canadian government started to take a hard look at road salt usage and best management plans. The Canadian Water Quality Guidelines include the maximum thresholds for when chloride becomes harmful to amphibians, algae, aquatic plants, aquatic insects, fish and invertebrates like mussels, she said.

While maintaining safe roadways, parking lots and sidewalks is necessary, Oswald believes most people are not aware of the full environmental costs to freshwater systems from road salts.

Danelle Haake, stream ecologist and director of Illinois RiverWatch, agrees.

“If you ask someone in the grocery store about road salt, they probably have no idea of the negative environmental consequences,” Haake said.

Haake said there is currently no way to stop the sodium chloride from entering storm drains and eventually the groundwater. She said some of the sodium stays in the ground, but for the most part the chloride flushes through soil until it reaches water. This makes bioremediation options like rain gardens and bioswales ineffective.

“Plants don’t produce salt. And they don’t absorb it. And they don’t hold it,” Haake said.

Haake said road salt hazards are not limited to freshwater ecosystems. She said sodium chloride has been found to degrade roadways and bridges, cause damage to cars and trucks, and even affect human health.

A high-salt diet contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes, according to the CDC. Residences and businesses located near roadways and using well-water in areas with high snowfall where road salt is used are at risk of having high chloride levels in their tap water, Haake said.

“If you’re drinking tap water with a lot of salt, it’s like eating salty fries all day long,” Haake said.

Seeking Safe Alternatives

Synthetic deicers are typically expensive which has limited their widespread use. Researchers also caution against trading salt for an artificial product.

“The last thing we want is some new plastic-based material that doesn’t break down,” Haake said.

In December 2020, Michigan passed Public Act No. 310. The act which goes into effect on March 24, 2021, states in part that, “the department must implement a pilot program on the use of agricultural additives to control ice on public roads, highways, and bridges in this state and to review the potential efficacy and environmental impacts of agricultural additives, while maintaining the safety and mobility of the motoring public.”

Oswald said all types of agricultural alternatives have been tested so far including cheese brine, pickle juice and the runoff from brewing beer. Beet juice from sugar beet processing has emerged with the best potential as an alternative to sodium chloride, she said.

Haake said using beet juice as a road deicing agent means trading sugar for salt. While sugar may be less toxic to aquatic life, she said high sugar levels lead to other problems. Bacteria use sugar as a food source and strip oxygen from the water. High bacteria levels can lead to a process called deoxygenation, which is lethal to fish and other aquatic life.

“So, how do you want to kill them?” Haake said.

And there is another issue with using sugar juice.

“Beet juice kinda smells,” said Craig Bryson, senior communications officer for the Oakland County Road Commission in southeast Michigan.

Bryson said the overly sweet odor is less noticeable in rural areas where the roadways are more spread out. But in highly developed urban areas like the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, the smell is more concentrated, he said.

Another concern of using agricultural products like beet juice is the possibility of attracting wildlife to roadways, Bryson said. Although, Haake notes wildlife like deer may already be attracted by road salt.

“Either way you end up with animals being attracted to roadways, which is not something we want,” Haake said.

In the end, Oswald said the best option might be a combination of road salt and beet juice.

“A little bit of two bad things is probably not as bad as a lot of one bad thing,” Haake said. “Probably.”

Reducing Usage

Bryson said the road commission’s No. 1 priority is human safety. He said Oakland County has implemented a lot of new technology and management practices to help reduce the overall amount of salt they use each year while still maintaining safe roadways.

One of the management practices that the Oakland County Road Commission utilizes is designated routes for truck drivers. Bryson said familiarity with the route and area allows the drivers to make better judgement calls on where and when to salt.

George Turmel has been a snow-plow driver with the Oakland County Road Commission for 28 years. When he started, drivers had to stop their trucks to reload the salt spreader. He said this frequently resulted in piles of spilled salt on the roadside.

In addition to being wasteful, spills are a needless burden on the environment as this salt has not contributed to safer roadways, Oswald said.

Turmel said he no longer needs to stop and refill the spreader as a conveyor belt on the truck’s undercarriage delivers salt directly to the spreader with little spillage.

Inside the cab, a computerized system allows Turmel to monitor and regulate the amount of salt the truck spreads. When he speeds up the computer automatically spreads more salt. When he slows down the spreader slows. When he stops the spreader stops. Turmel said this system is far more efficient than the old manually controlled system.

In addition to salt, Turmel’s truck carries a tank of brine, or salty water. He said a thin layer of brine helps the rock salt stick to the roadway which reduces the amount of salt he needs to apply.

Turmel said in the past, high risk areas like bridges and curves were heavily salted to try and prevent ice from forming. Now, he finds a thin layer of brine is usually more effective at preventing ice formation and significantly reduces the overall amount of salt he uses to keep the roadways clear and safe.

“I use a lot less salt now,” Turmel said. “A lot less.”

Haake conducted a study to determine if using brine decreased chloride in stormwater and thereby decreased chloride in urban streams. The findings were published in 2019 in the peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Science & Technology.

Haake found the “use of brining by city governments resulted in a 45% average reduction of chloride loads conveyed to streams, demonstrating that brining is a highly viable BMP for local municipal operations.”

Turmel said using brine has definitely reduced the amount of salt he uses while keeping the roads safe, which is his primary goal.

“Every day I wonder if I saved someone’s life today. I never know for sure, but I like to think I did,” Turmel said.

Oswald said road commissions are not the only users of road salt.

The Smart About Salt Council in Waterloo, Ontario, is developing programs aimed at property managers. Oswald said the council is reaching out to managers of commercial properties like big box parking lots, privately maintained subdivisions, shopping malls and plazas to talk about the risks of salt and share ways to reduce usage.

Oswald said another challenge to reducing salt usage is many winter maintenance agreements are based on the amount of salt applied. The more salt applied, the more the snow-removal service is paid, which encourages liberal applications of salt, she said..

“We need more education about salt at all levels,” Oswald said.” 

(Source: https://www.michiganradio.org/post/road-salt-researchers-look-vegetables-and-juices-alternatives-salt)

[cleanwaterchronicles]

Environmental Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) Classroom Launches Instructional Video Series

School’s back in session and the opening bell has rung for EGLE Classroom.

As students settle in for a new school year ��� whether at home or in the classroom – the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is providing a variety of online videos through its EGLE Classroom initiative that teachers and parents can use to supplement school lessons all year long.

Want to learn more  about how you can interact with the environment? EGLE Classroom will share new content each week hosted by subject matter experts either on EGLE’s staff or through its partners. Environmental education is an essential ingredient  for developing environmental stewardship.

“EGLE Classroom will help instructors to think about how to talk to their students on ways to  interact with the natural world around them,” said Liesl Clark, director of  EGLE. “We want this to be a two-way collaboration and urge teachers and  students to create their own videos that can be shared with others across  Michigan as a statewide resource.”

Director Clark calls the class to order with this video. New material will be released each Tuesday.

We’re also looking for some help from teachers and students around Michigan. Record a quick classroom lesson or demonstration, post it to Twitter using the hashtag  #EGLEClassroom and don’t forget to tag @MichiganEGLE. Sharing knowledge  beyond classroom walls benefits students across the state, wherever and  whenever they are doing their schoolwork.

EGLE also has updated  its EGLE Classroom educational resources webpage.  There, you’ll find classroom resources from EGLE and its partners to assist  students and instructors with information on environmental topics. Come back  to the webpage often as it will be continually updated with new videos and  other instruction materials.

Still looking for  more content that can broaden school or at-home lessons about the  environment? Check out EGLE’s YouTube channel, where we’ve posted dozens  of videos from EnviroMinute shorts to in-depth presentations by staff or  recordings of webinars and public information sessions. There’s the  Brownfield Flip series, Shoreline Stewards, sustainability issues, lectures  and presentations.

Sources: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDEQ/bulletins/2a31743

https://www.michigan.gov/egle/0,9429,7-135-3307_3580---,00.html

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Fall 2020 Watershed Announcements

Help out your local watershed by participating in the following watershed events!

Clinton River Watershed Council:

September 18, 2020: Adopt-A-Stream Training 

Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm

Information: (REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. EMAIL CONTACT@CRWC.ORG TO GET MEETING LINK)

September 19, 2020: Clinton Cleanup

Location: New Pathway along Clintonville Road. Park/Register at Harvestland Church (5848 Clintonville Rd.)

Time: 9:00am- 11:00am

Information: Please wear a mask and practice social distancing, to register email Derek Smith at dosmith@indtwp.com

September 20, 2020: Clinton Cleanup

Location: Meet in Eagles Landing parking lot off Livernois, South of Avon on the West Side of the street.

Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm

Information: Choose to cleanup the trail or the river, waders will be provided. Email brian@redlotusyoga.com or register at the front desk to confirm attendance.

September 22, 2020: Adopt-A-Stream Training

Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm 

Location: Center Line Parks & Rec 25355 Lawrence Ave, Center Line MI 48015

Information: (REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. EMAIL CONTACT@CRWC.ORG)

September 23, 2020: Weekly Clean

Time: 10:00am-12:00pm

Location: Beaudette Park in Pontiac- 786 Orchard Lake Rd, Pontiac, MI 48341

Information: Every week, volunteers pick up trash, remove woody debris and perform in-water cleanups during the summer months called “Trash Runs” by paddling up and down the river.

September 26, 2020: Weekly Clean

Time: 9:00am-11:00pm

Location: Waterford Clinton River Canoe Launch near Elizabeth Lake and Airport Rd

Information: Bring your own Kayak. Register with David Lerner at DLerner@plunkettcooney.com

September 30, 2020: Weekly Clean

Time: 10:00am-12:00pm

Location: MacArthur Park in Mt. Clemens- 96 North River Road Park in YMCA parking lot

Information: Every week, volunteers pick up trash, remove woody debris and perform in-water cleanups during the summer months called “Trash Runs” by paddling up and down the river.

Huron River Watershed Council

September 10, 2020-October 31, 2020: Suds For The River Tour 2020

Information: When you purchase a Suds ticket to support HRWC, you will receive a passport to the Suds for the River Tour! Visit participating breweries and restaurants and get your passport stamped along the way. If you visit at least four participating locations by October 31, 2020, you could win cool prizes! Plus, your passport is your ticket to special discounts off brews and bites at participating locations. Alcohol purchase is not required.

How to Play: Purchase a Suds ticket for $35 or more and we will mail you a passport. Bring your passport when you visit the locations and ask the staff to stamp it. When you’re done, send us your passport to be entered in the drawing for prizes.

Details: Visit at least 4 participating locations to be entered to win one of three grand prize drawings.Passports must be signed or stamped by participating locations, and returned to HRWC, via email or mail by November 5 to qualify for grand prize drawings. (make sure your name and email is on the passport)Stay tuned for pop-up challenges to win sweet prizes!Food, non-alcoholic, and alcoholic beverages qualify towards grand prize entry.Don’t forget to get social by posting pics your tour using #Suds4RiverMail: HRWC, 1100 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Email:Email a photo or scan of your passport(s) to agotelaere@hrwc.org  

Visit: https://www.hrwc.org/donate/suds/ to see participating breweries and restaurants. 

Friends of The Rouge

September 19, 2020: Bandhu Garden Planting Workshop

Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm

Location: 12285 Maine St, Hamtramck, MI 48212

Information:  Rain Garden Planting Workshop- Register at: https://forms.gle/hCgE3YUBDEEsQ44i8 Go to https://therouge.org/land-water-works-coalition/ for more info. Learn more about Bandhu Gardens: http://bandhugardens.com/

September 29, 2020: Master Rain Gardener Training Program

Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm

Location: Southfield Parks and Recreation, 26000 Evergreen Rd, Southfield, MI 48076

Information:  APPLY TODAY! Visit TheRouge.org/mrg

Cost:  Cost: $119 ($350 value; sliding scale scholarships available, minimum fee of $20) $175 for applications received after September 15thSubsidized rates applicable for residents of the Rouge River Watershed, Washtenaw County, Oakland County, or other MRG funding partners

Requirements: Participants must attend all five classes and plant or adopt a rain garden to earn their Master Rain Gardener certificate, garden sign, and t-shirt (yes, there are t-shirts!).

Questions: contact Matthew Bertrand

October 3, 2020: Pumpkinfest

Time: 11:00am-5:00pm

Location: MSU Tollgate Education Conference Center 28115 Meadowbrook Rd, Novi, MI 48377, USA

Information: FOTR staffing terrain model and display

Flint River Watershed Coalition

September 26, 2020-October 10, 2020: Fall Water Quality Monitoring

Information:  We will be holding our Fall Water Monitoring Window from September 26th to October 10th in Genesee and Lapeer counties and we need you to help us collect all that super important data - and the bugs! The bugs that live in our local rivers and streams (called benthics) tell us how their stream is doing. Is it healthy? Has there been pollution introduced to the stream? Has it improved? What IS that bug I found?All great questions, and ones we need answers to. Interested? We have over 35 sites across Genesee and Lapeer counties, so we are sure to have one near you. Message Jaime Welch or email her at jwelch@flintriver.org for more information or to sign up for a site today!

[cleanwaterchronicles]

Lesson Plans, Teacher Guides, and Online Environmental Resources for Educators

Click the Headings below to visit EPA.GOV’s- Air, Climate Change, Ecosystems, Energy, Health, Waste, & Water Online Environmental Resources:

AIR:

Acid Rain: A Teacher's Guide (PDF 56 pp, 4.6 MB) Lesson plan and activities from EPA for teachers on acid rain. Grades: 6-8 Type of Resource: Lesson plan

Acid Rain Student Pages Find the acid rain student pages, as well as general information for older students or adults. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Lesson plans and experiments

Carl Gets Some Rest (PDF 12 pp, 765 KB) This EPA coloring and story book, for children in pre-school through 2nd grade, teaches a simple lesson: there are many transportation alternatives to using a car. Grades: K-2 Type of Resource: Coloring Book

Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools This EPA page provides information on indoor air quality in school buildings and how to order the Tools for Schools Action Kit. The kit shows how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air quality at little or no cost using common-sense activities and in-house staff. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Toolkit

Noise Pollution for Kids (PDF 15 pp, 6.54 MB) This EPA booklet for your students will teach you how to identify which sounds are loud and ways to protect your hearing and health. Grades: K-5 Type of Resource: Activity book

Particulate Matter (PM) Air Sensor Kits Particle pollution known as particulate matter (PM) is one of the major air pollutants regulated by EPA to protect public health and the environment. A PM air sensor kit has been developed by EPA researchers as an educational tool to teach children about air quality and air science. Grades: 5-12 Type of Resource: Hands-on activity guide

Basic Ozone Layer Science Find a straightforward explanation of the ozone layer and ozone depletion. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act A brief introduction to the 1990 version of the Clean Air Act, to help you understand what is in the law and how it may affect you. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Booklet

RadTown USA EPA's RadTown USA is a virtual community that aims to educate students about the sources of radiation in our daily lives. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Virtual activity

Why is Coco Orange? Coco has a problem. He is a chameleon, but he cannot change colors, and his asthma is acting up. Read how Coco and his friends at Lizard Lick Elementary solve this mystery as they learn about air quality and how to stay healthy when the air quality is bad. Grades: Pre K-2 Type of Resource: Book

AIRNOW Get up-to-the-minute information about air pollution in your community, through a joint project from EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service and other partners. The AIRNOW website includes maps, forecasts, and information about the health effects of air pollution. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

AIRNOW Air Quality Resources  Find air quality curriculum materials and activities from AIRNOW, including a toolkit and workshop opportunities for teachers. Grades: K-8 Type of Resource: Curriculum guide 

AIRNOW's Ozone: Good Up High, Bad Nearby Ozone acts as a protective layer high above the Earth, but it can be harmful to breathe. This publication provides basic information about ground-level and high-altitude ozone. See a quick animation on Ozone too. Grades:6-12 Type of Resource: Booklet/Brochure

NOAA's Education Resources Website Explore this site to find the information you need to teach students about weather, climate change, and oceans. You'll find activities, background information, and much more! Grades: 6-12

CLIMATE CHANGE:

Generate! Game An interactive board game developed by EPA scientists called Generate! enables players to explore energy choices and the environment and gets students “energized” in some friendly competition. The game is a teaching tool that can be used to understand the costs and benefits of the energy choices we make; find out what happens if the mix of energy sources changes in the future and learn what energy choices mean for our climate, air, water, and overall environmental quality. Grades: 6-12 Type of Resource: Board game and teacher guides.

Climate Change, Wildlife, and Wildlands Toolkit: A toolkit for formal and informal educators EPA, in partnership with the National Park Service and with input from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, developed a kit for use when talking with the public about how climate change is affecting our nation's wildlife and public lands. Grades: all

NASA's Climate Kids Geared toward students, the multimedia-rich Climate Kids site uses games, humorous illustrations and animations to help break down the important issue of climate change. Grades: K-12

NOAA's Education Resources Website Explore this site to find the information you need to teach students about weather, climate change, and oceans. You'll find activities, background information, and much more! Grades: 6-12

NOAA's Discover Your Changing World Activity Book This free activity book will introduce your students to the essential principles of climate science and what you can do to protect our Earth.

ECOSYSTEMS:

America's Wetlands  This resource will give you a better understanding of the rich variety of wetlands, their importance, how they are threatened, and what can be done to conserve them for future generations. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

Coral Reef Protection: What are coral reefs? Explore EPA's resources on coral reef protection to learn why coral reefs are important and what is being done to protect them. Grades: 6-12 Type of Resource: Website

EnviroAtlas Ecosystems such as forests and wetlands provide many essential benefits, including clean air and water, food, fiber, and recreational opportunities. The benefits people receive from nature, called "ecosystem goods and services,” are critically important to human health and well-being, but they are often overlooked due to lack of information. EnviroAtlas is a freely available web-based resource that combines an interactive mapping application, analysis tools, and interpretive information on ecosystem goods and services. EnviroAtlas allows users to visually interpret ecosystem services and understand how they can be conserved and enhanced.  Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Website

Estuaries: Fundamentals What is an estuary? Why are estuaries important? Find core information from EPA on estuaries and the National Estuary Program. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

Exploring Estuaries This EPA site, aimed at children, provides introductory information on estuaries for students of various ages and background information for teachers. Includes activities, games and a glossary. Grades: 6-12 Type of Resource: Interactive website

Hazardous Waste and Ecosystems A classroom activity to help students recognize that hazardous waste may have far-reaching impacts on ecosystems and that these impacts are not always easy to identify.   Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Lesson plan

Save Our Species: Endangered Species Coloring Book  Coloring book about endangered species. Grades: K-5 Type of Resource: Activity book

Wetlands Education Everything you need to help your student understand wetlands and how they fit into the water cycle and the environment. A portal site of links to activities, curriculum, education programs, resources and teaching tools to assist you in wetlands and habitat education. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Website, curriculum guides, teaching tools

Dig In  Explore a world of possibilities in the garden and on your plate using ten inquiry-based lessons that engage 5th and 6th graders in growing, harvesting, tasting, and learning about fruits and vegetables. Grades: 5-6 Type of Resource: Lesson plans 

Everglades National Park for Teachers Are you interested in teaching your students about the Florida Everglades? Check out this site to find activities and background information that will help you tell the story of this fascinating natural ecosystem. Even if you don't live near the Everglades, you will find valuable information that can be applied to many ecosystems throughout the country. Grades: All

Forests Lesson Plan A lesson plan from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Grades: K-5 Subtopic: ecosystem Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Resources To Learn More About Endangered Species From the Fish and Wildlife Service, a list of materials that may give you some ideas to help a species near you get on its road to recovery, because recovery is the ultimate goal for each threatened and endangered species. Grades: All

NASA Educational Resources and NASA Wavelength Search NASA for teaching materials on: earth science, general science, history, math, physical science, and space science. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Searchable database of teaching materials

National Estuarine Research Reserve System K-12 Educator Resources Estuaries, where rivers meet the sea, are fascinating ecosystems. Find out about what makes estuaries special, the threats to estuarine ecosystems and explore estuaries around the U.S. Grades: 9-12

National Wetlands Research Center This site from the U.S. Geologic Survey explores the many factors that affect wetland health, and provides resources for teachers on preserving our wetlands. Grades: 9-12

National Park Service Education Resources Classroom materials, field trip opportunities and professional development programs for educators from the National Park Service. Grades: All

Teachers on the Public Lands/ Hands on the Land Hands on the Land partnerships provide hands-on field experiences, such as citizen science and environmental monitoring projects, that connect the next generation to our forests, parks, waterways, and wildlife refuges. Grades: All Type of Resource: Website

The USDA Farm to School Planning Toolkit The kit is designed for use by schools, school districts, and community partners and filled with tips and examples, insights from others, and lists of resources for further research. It guides you through questions to consider and helpful resources to reference when starting or growing a farm to school program Grades: All Type of Resource: Planning Toolkit

U.S. Forest Service Education Toolbox The Educator Toolbox from the U.S. Forest Service is jam-packed with helpful resources to make your challenging job just a little easier. Here you will find background resources to help you understand forests and grasslands, professional development opportunities and resources, and a collection of great materials and programs organized by grade-level. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Toolkit

Where Rivers Meet the Sea This game depicts the ecosystem of an estuary on the west coast of the United States. To succeed, players must learn about the factors that produce healthy estuaries, food webs, and why estuaries are essential to both ocean life and to humans. Find related curriculum, tutorials, and classroom resources. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Online Game

Wildlife Fact Sheets From the Fish and Wildlife Service, basic information about species of regular public interest. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the factsheets. Grades: 9-12

ENERGY:

ENERGY STAR Kids Students can learn to use energy wisely and be an energy star. Find related publications for download and order. Grades: K-8 Type of Resource: website

Fuel Economy and Environment Labels: High School  This activity lets students learn about fuel economy and environment labels, and how to calculate the cost and emissions associated with cars. Students will understand the concept of fuel economy and compare and contrast various fuel types. Grades: 9-12 Type of resource: Lesson plan

Fuel Economy and Environment Labels: Middle School  This activity lets students learn about fuel economy and environment labels and calculate the cost and emissions associated with cars. Students will understand the concept of fuel economy and compare and contrast various fuel types. Grades: 5-8 Type of resource: Lesson plan

Join the Lorax From the ENERGY STAR program, familiar characters like the Lorax will help students understand energy efficiency and how to use energy wisely. Download the accompanying activity book. Type of Resource: Website and activity book.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kids Home Page Kids Saving Energy. Games tips and facts for kids who want to save energy. Grades: 6-8 Type of Resource: Website

Department of Energy Educator Resources Find the complete set of lesson plans, student competitions, workbooks, videos and more from the Department of Energy. Grades: k-12 Type of resource: Website

HEALTH:

Asthma Asthma and upper respiratory illnesses information from EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

Chemical Safety Resource for Middle School Teachers In this lesson students will participate in a chemical survey activity regarding the household chemicals and cleaners used in and around their house. They will conduct a simple survey with parental supervision and answer questions about how many and what kind of chemicals they found. Students will also brainstorm on how chemical safety can prevent pollution at home. Grades: 5-8 Type of resource: Lesson plan

Environmental Health Science Education Lesson plans and classroom activities for teachers on environmental health science from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Lesson plans, activity guides, factsheets

A Citizens Guide to Radon A complete guide to taking action to lower the radon level in your home. It offers strategies for testing and discussions of what steps to take after you have tested, discussions of the risk of radon and radon myths. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Guide

Health Effects of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Secondhand smoke can cause health problems in children and adults. Read about the risks of environmental tobacco smoke and find links to research studies about the issue. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

Help! It's a Roach! Roaches are one of the most common household pests. Once they move into your home, they multiply quickly. That makes them even harder to control. Use this Web site and complete the activities to learn what kids and adults can do. Grades: K-5 Type of Resource: Interactive website

Hold the Mold  In this lesson, students will learn about the different kinds of mold and how it grows. They will conduct an experiment to grow and observe the growth of different kinds of food molds and understand the health effects of mold and how to recognize and prevent mold growth. Grades: 5-8 Type of Resource: Lesson plan

Lead Blockers  In this lesson students will learn about the health effects of lead and through a game of tag.  Students will model the process of certain nutrients that can block lead absorption. As part of the activity, students will brainstorm on ways to prevent lead exposure at home. Grades: K-8 Type of resource: Lesson plan

Lead in Paint, Dust and Soil Find information about lead hazards and lead poisoning prevention in the home. Grades: 9-12 Type of resource: Website

Mercury Bioaccumulation Tag This activity lets students model the processes of mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in an aquatic food chain. Students will understand the health effects of mercury and demonstrate an understanding of how mercury becomes present in fish. Grades: 5-8 Type of resource: Lesson plan

Recipes for Health Kids and a Healthy Environment A nine-lesson program designed to excite kids about environmental health and to empower them to take steps in their everyday lives to improve the environment for their community and reduce environmental risk. Grades: 4-8 Type of Resource: Curriculum guide

The Ultraviolet Index Several publications explaining the Ultraviolet Index and steps you can take to minimize the risks from overexposure to the sun's rays. Each is available for reading online and downloading. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website and database

Water on Tap: What You Need to Know Where does your drinking water come from? How is it treated? How do you protect it? This is the place to get the answers to these and other drinking-water questions. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Factsheet/brochure

Environmental Health Science Education Portal site for students, teachers and scientists on environmental health information, activities, jobs, and developmental opportunities. Grades: 6-12

National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)   Everything you ever wanted to know about pesticides in one easy location. This cooperative effort between EPA and Oregon State University provides information from EPA, state agencies, academia and Canada, including information for health care providers. Grades: 9-12

Ready Kids! Disasters happen everywhere, and every member of the family can prepare. Preparedness for the future starts today. Grades: All ages Type of Resource: Website 

Sunwise: Sun Safety for Kids and Educators SunWise Partner Schools sponsor classroom and school-wide activities that raise children's awareness of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and simple sun safety practices. The SunWise Toolkit is free to registered schools. Grades: K-8 Type of Resource: Website and toolkit

WASTE:

Basic Information about Waste Management, Recycling, and Pollution Prevention Find core information on sustainable materials management and pollution prevention at the source. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Resources for Students and Educators Find games and classroom resources like Recycle City and the Planet Protector series, including a teachers guide. Type of Resource: Website

Pack a Waste Free Lunch Find easy ways to encourage students (and parents) to reduce waste at lunchtime. Type of Resource: Toolkit

Life of a CD/DVD Lifecycle of a CD/DVD-Help your students explore the lifecycle of a familiar object, from how it's made to ideas for extending its life in new ways. Type of Resource: Poster/Flyer

Life of a Soccer Ball Help your students explore the lifecycle of a familiar object, from how it's made to ideas for extending it's life in new ways. Type of Resource: Poster/Flyer

Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste This document describes how people can help solve a growing problem...garbage! Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

The Quest for Less: Activities and Resources for Teaching K-8 Use this resource to develop lesson plans, incorporate a range of activities into various subject areas throughout the school year. Grades: K-8 Type of Resource: Curriculum guide

Science Fair Fun: Designing Environmental Science Projects  (PDF 245K, 16 pp)  Resource booklet designed to generate ideas for students and teachers interested in solid waste science fair projects Grades: 6-8 Type of Resource: Curriculum guide

Science Fair Fun: Designing Environmental Science Projects en Español  (PDF 223K, 16 pp) Resource booklet in Spanish designed to generate ideas for students and teachers interested in solid waste science fair projects. Grades: 6-8 Type of Resource: Curriculum guide

 Superfund Basics This page provides an overview of the Superfund program, highlights key steps in the Superfund cleanup process, explains how the program is enforced, describes EPA's Superfund offices, and links to other EPA hazardous-waste programs. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools EPA's Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools helps your school and school district reduce the amount of waste you generate. You'll learn how to start a waste reduction program or expand an existing one. The guide will show you how your program can benefit your school, your community, and the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling your waste. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Curriculum guide

Where Can I Take My Computer? Web sites and organizations that can provide information on opportunities for donating and recycling computers and other electronics. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

WATER:

Acid Rain: A teacher's guide for grades 6 through 8 (PDF 56 pp, 4.6 MB) A lesson plan and activities from EPA for teachers on acid rain. Grades: 6-8 Type of Resource: Lesson plan

Acid Rain Educational Resources from EPA Experiments and activities, a review of basic acid rain concepts, factsheets, and things you can do about acid rain. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Lesson plans and experiments

Darby Duck and the Aquatic Crusaders Find seven experiments from EPA to learn about the characteristics of water. Grades: K-5 Type of Resource: Lesson plan and experiments

Drinking Water & Ground Water Kids' Stuff Games, activities, and art projects from EPA about the water cycle and water treatment. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Lesson plans

Ground Water Contamination (PDF 10 pp, 0.2MB)  Find a general review of groundwater contamination and where it occurs. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Factsheet

How's My Waterway? Learn the condition of local streams, lakes, and other waters anywhere in the U.S., searching EPA's database of water quality monitoring reports. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website/app

How People Get Their Water - Reservoirs: "Holding Tanks" for Drinking Water  Let your students "Ride the Water Cycle" with this activity from EPA. Help them understand the role of reservoirs in maintaining a reliable supply of drinking water. Grades: 4-8 Type of Resource: Lesson plan

Magnificent Ground Water Connection This ground-water activity guide is applicable to a wide range of subject matter and the topics include basic concepts on the water cycle, water distribution, treatment, and stewardship. This page includes five sample lesson activity plans. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Curriculum guide and lesson plans

On Your Mark, Set, Evaporate (PDF 4.73 MB, 398 pp) This EPA lesson plan covers transpiration as part of the hydrologic cycle. Grades: 6-8 Type of resource: Lesson plan

Thirstin Builds an Aquifer  This activity illustrates how water is stored in an aquifer, how ground water can become contaminated, and how this contamination ends up in a drinking water well. Ultimately, students should get a clear understanding of how careless use and disposal of harmful contaminants above the ground can potentially end up in the drinking water below the ground. This particular experiment can be done by each student at their work station. Use the interactive website or PDF version (PDF 240 KB, 2 pp) Grades: K-3 Type of resource: Website and lesson plan

Thirstin's Groundwater Movement Activity (PDF 332 KB, 2 pp) This class activity demonstrates that ground water must be able to move through underground materials. The students will act as molecules of water and the underground materials. Grades: K-5 Type of resource: Lesson plan

Tracking Pollution - A Hazardous Whodunit A Thirstin lesson plan to teach students to make a topographic map, use it to predict ground water flow and investigate the most likely source of ground water contamination. Grades: 9-12 Type of resource: Lesson plan

Water Sense Resources Resources for educating students about "Fix a Leak Week," EPA's WaterSense Partnership program and water efficiency. Grades: K-8 Type of resource: Lesson plan

Watershed Academy The Watershed Academy is a focal point in EPA's Office of Water for providing training and information on watershed management. The Academy's self-paced training modules and webcast seminars provide current information from national experts across a broad range of watershed topics. Grades: 9-12, College, Adult Learners Type of Resource: Self-paced online modules

National Wetlands Research Center This site from the U.S. Geologic Survey explores the many factors that affect wetland health, and provides resources for teachers on preserving our wetlands. Grades: 9-12

NOAA's Education Resources Website Explore this site to find the information you need to teach students about weather, climate change, and oceans. You'll find activities, background information, and much more! Grades: 6-12

National Ocean Service Education Find case studies, tutorials, games, and more from NOAA's National Ocean Service. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Website

Water Science for Schools This site provides extensive background information on a wide variety of water topics. It also includes on-line activities, data tables, maps, and a glossary of terms. Grades: 6-12

Source: https://www.epa.gov/students/lesson-plans-teacher-guides-and-online-environmental-resources-educators

[cleanwaterchronicles]

Clinton River Quest 2020

This summer, Clinton River Watershed Council is inviting the community to join them on an adventure! They’re launching the Clinton River Quest, a scavenger hunt taking place between July 6 and Sept. 30, where participants will explore the 760 square miles of the Clinton River watershed and learn about the efforts to keep it clean and protected through hiking, fishing, paddling and swimming, clean-up efforts and free educational programs. 

CRWC’s Clinton River Quest program will engage you in the watershed using education, involvement and stewardship. This includes teaching Clinton River watershed facts, visiting restoration projects and providing ways in which you can be involved!

Complete the quest at your own pace, before September 30th. When finished take the exit survey, become known as a “River Ranger”, and proudly defend our water resources while wearing your cool t-shirt and supporting CRWC! Don’t forget to document your hunt along the way! Tag Clinton River Watershed Council in social media posts wearing your t-shirt at scavenger hunt site visits and activities.

***BONUS*** The first 50 finishers will receive their choice of a $15 gift card to Plants for Ecology, or a double walled steel water bottle.

Sales end on Sep 30, 2020

A  minimum $15 donation per person will get you a t-shirt, sticker  and qualify you for grand prizes, like gift cards and merch! The donation will keep the program running and help CRWC to continue the crusade of protecting our water resources!

Visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clinton-river-quest-tickets-108462552414 

https://www.crwc.org/

for more information.

[cleanwaterchronicles]

Michigan Launches Website to Keep Public Informed About Line 5 Tunnel Project

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) together with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority (MSCA) today announced the launch of the Line 5 in Michigan website.

The new multi-agency website – Michigan.gov/Line 5 – is designed to keep the public informed about Enbridge Energy’s proposal to relocate the current section of the Line 5 oil and natural gas liquids pipeline that crosses the Straits of Mackinac with a new section of pipeline to be housed in a tunnel beneath the lakebed.

In addition to providing an overview of the regulatory permitting process that the proposed project must follow, the website will also include technical and permitting documents, timelines, maps and other resources to help the public better understand the tunnel proposal and the unique roles various state entities play in the permitting process.

Under Michigan law, EGLE is the regulatory agency responsible for environmental permitting for the tunnel project, while the MPSC has siting authority for pipelines that carry crude oil and petroleum products. Housed within MDOT, the MSCA is responsible for overseeing construction and operation of the proposed tunnel. MSCA would own the tunnel after its construction and provide independent oversight throughout its life.

In addition to the website, EGLE has also established a dedicated permit application email account related to the proposed tunnel project, EGLE-Enbridge-Comments@Michigan.gov to provide the public with a simplified means of commenting on the proposed project. Those interested in monitoring or commenting on the MPSC proceeding involving the pipeline replacement project can sign up for MPSC email updates through the web site.

Source:https://www.michigan.gov/egle/0,9429,7-135-7251_7253-533603--,00.html

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What does Line 5 refer to?

Line 5 refers to the light crude oil and natural gas liquids pipeline that extends from Superior, Wisconsin, through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and then across the U.S.-Canada international border to Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

What is the proposed Mackinac Straits Dual Pipelines Replacement Project?

The project involves relocating the approximate four-mile portion of Line 5.   Currently, Line 5 consists of two parallel pipelines located on top of the lakebed within the Straits of Mackinac.  The proposed project would replace those pipelines with a new pipeline inside a tunnel located 60 to 250 feet beneath the lakebed of the Straits.

What is the tunnel?

The Great Lakes Tunnel Project is a proposed concrete utility tunnel approximately 18-21 feet in diameter joining and connecting the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan at the Straits of Mackinac for the purpose of accommodating Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline.  It could in the future also be used for other utility infrastructure, including, but not limited to, pipelines, electric transmission lines, facilities for the transmission of data and telecommunications.

Are the “Line 5 pipeline” and the “tunnel” the same thing?

No. Line 5 refers to the 645-mile interstate pipeline running from Superior, Wisconsin to Sarnia, Ontario which carries oil and liquid natural gas products.  Approximately four miles of Line 5 consists of dual pipelines lying on top of the lakebed across the Straits. They were constructed based on an easement granted by the State in 1953. The concrete tunnel as proposed, would be constructed underneath the lakebed and would accommodate utility infrastructure, including the new replacement segment of Line 5.